Main Content

Alfred Escher – Chronology

«Brüder, reicht die Hand zum Bunde.» Commemorative card printed by the Swiss Zofingia Society in 1855.
Certificate of October 2, 1855 expressing gratitude to Alfred Escher following his resignation from Zurich's Cantonal Government.
Alfred Escher's daughter Lydia (photograph edited by John Schoch).
Feb. 20, 1819Born in Zurich at Hirschengraben 56/60, the son of Heinrich Escher and Lydia Zollikofer von Altenklingen
1831Moves to the Belvoir Estate in the Enge district of Zurich.
1834–1837 Attends and then matriculates from the Cantonal High School
1837–1842 Studies law at the University of Zurich (spending two semesters abroad, in Bonn and Berlin)
1840/41 President of the «Zofingia» student society
1842 Awarded doctorate by the University of Zurich
1842/43 Six month stay in Paris.
1844–1847 Lecturer at the University of Zurich
1844–1882 Member of Zurich's Cantonal Parliament (President 1848, 1852, 1857, 1861, 1864, 1868)
1845–1848Federal Council of Cantonal Representatives (not continuous)
1847/48Chief Administrator of Canton Zurich
1848Federal Commissioner in Canton Ticino
1848–1855Cantonal government of Zurich (president 1849, 1851/52, 1853–1855)
1848–1882National Council (president 1849/50, 1856/57, 1862/63)
1849Büsinger dispute: swearing in of General Dufour
1852Escher helps push through the Railways Act which transfers responsibility for line concessions to the cantons, and for the construction and operation of the railways to private companies
1853–1871Managing director of the Nordostbahn Company (NOB)
1854–1882Vice-Chairman of the Board of Education, responsible for the Federal Polytechnic (now the ETH Zurich)
1856–1877Chairman of the board of directors of Schweizerische Kreditanstalt (now Credit Suisse)
1856/57Neuchâtel dispute: leading role in resolving the conflict
23.04.1857Marries Augusta Uebel
1857–1874Member of the Board of Schweizerische Lebensversicherungs- und Rentenanstalt (now Swiss Life)
Jul. 10, 1858Birth of daughter Lydia
1859–1874Member of Zurich City Council
1859/60Savoy dispute: leading role in resolving the conflict
Jun. 4, 1861Birth of daughter Hedwig
1861–1863Dappental question: leading role in resolving the conflict
Jul. 28, 1862Death of daughter Hedwig
1863–1871Member of the Committee of the Gotthard Association
Jul. 22, 1864Death of Augusta Escher-Uebel
1871–1878Managing director of the Gotthard Railway Company
1872–1882Chairman of the board of directors of the Nordostbahn Railway Company
1880–1882Chairman of the board of directors of Schweizerische Kreditanstalt (now Credit Suisse)
Dec. 6, 1882Death